Tire-tightener



(No Model.)

W. H. WALLINGFORD.

TIRE TIGHTBNER..

y Patented Feb. 22, 1898.

W/TNESSES A TTOHNEYS.

ends it encircles.

anni nieren.

WILLIAM II. WALLINGFORD, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY.

TERNTIGHTNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,373, dated February22, 1898.

Application tiled April 2, 1897. Serial No. 630,380. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. WALLING- FORD, of Newport, in the countyof Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Tire-Tighteners, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to means for tightening the tires ofvehicle-wheels, and has for its object to provide a device of theindicated character which is simple, inexpensive, practical, andeffective in use, and that may be readily adjusted to compensate for theeX- pansion or contraction of the wooden fellies of a wheel by one whois not an expert mechanic.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination otparts, as is hereinafter described, and deiined in the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a side view in part of a wheelrim having the improvements,partly in section, on the line l l in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an inner sideview oi a vehicle-telly in part, showing the improvement applied, seenin direction of the arrow :n in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionsubstantially on the line 3 3 in Fig. l. Fig. lis a perspective viewof ailling-plate forming part of the improvement. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of a Wedge forming part of the device, and Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview of a lining-hoop which may be used with the improvement.

In the drawings that illustrate one application of the invention, A Arepresent adjacent end portions of the fellies for a wheel and which areengaged by the improved tiretightener.

The improvement essentially consists of the following-described detailsof construction: A metal-casing sleeve lO is provided that in thecontour ot' its comparatively thin wall exactly conforms with that ofthe telly The fellies A, transversely considered, are of the samedimensions as the cross-section of the casing-sleeve lO and are soreduced in diameter where they engage with the sleeve that these ends ofthe fellies may be slidably inserted in the sleeve. Vhen the describedparts have been assembled, their outer surfaces should conform neatlyand avoid unsightly offsets.

The inner side of the casing-sleeve 10 is apertured to afford means forthe free introduction of two facing-blocks ll, and a coverplate l2 isfitted upon the casing-sleeve and is secured thereto by the bolt 13,saidl plate covering the aperture in a neat and effective manner.

In constructing a wheel of which the ielly portions A are a part theends ot the follysections are sufficiently separated from each other topermit an introduction of the facingblocks 1l between them. Thefacing-blocks ll are alike, and each consists of a metal or hard-woodblock conforming in contour and dimension with the form and size of theinterior cross-section of the sleeve 10.

A transverse rib ce is formed on each. block ll, which ribs are embeddedin cross-grooves formed to receive them in the end surfaces of thefellies A. The blocks ll are preferably rendered parallel on their sidefaces and have such a relative thickness as will permit a crevice b tointervene their adjacent surfaces when said blocks are in place withinthe sleeve l0, as shown in Fig. l.

If the fellies A are formed of dry wood when the Wheel is manufactured,similar filling-plates 14E are provided, as shown in Figs. l, 3, and 4,two of these plates being employed for convenience in introducing them.The iilling-plates let should be of such area and thickness as to neatlytill the crevice b, so that the shrinkage of the tire B in place on thefellies will draw all the joints together and bind the fellies upon thespokes Cof the Wheel. Should the fellies become so tightly compressed onthe spokes as to draw the latter sidewise and give too much dish to thewheel, the liners or filling-plates 14 may be removed, which willrelieve such a strain on the wooden portions of the wheel and let itcome to a proper dish. i

To take up looseness in the joints between the ends of the fellies A, apair of wedges l5 is employed, the form of which is shown in Fig. 5. Asindicated in Fig. l, the facingblocks ll have their transverse andadjacent edges that are near the aperture of the sleeve IOO y10 beveled,thereby facilitating the introduction of the Wedges 15, that are to bedriven into the crevice b through said aperture of the sleeve after theremoval of the coverplate 12.

It will be seen that the introduction of the wedges 15 will so spreadapart the facing-` blocks 11 and ends of the fellies they are in contactwith that the tire B will be sufficiently tightened. It shouldbeexplained that if the wooden rim of the wheel consists of a single bentfelly then but a single tire-tightening device may be used inconjunction with the ends of such a felly. However, should the wheelhave a series of fellies in its rim then, if preferred, there may be aplurality of tiretighteners of the improved construction employed tospread the parts of the wooden rim against the tire.

If a wheel is manufactured of wood that is not seasoned and thereforeliable to contract considerably in dry weather, it may be of advantageto introduce a lining-hoop such as is represented in Fig. 6, this hoop16 being slid between the tire B and felly or fellies of the wheel topartially take up the slackness and enable the insertion of the wedges15, as before explained, to complete the tightening of the tire.

It will be evident that after the wedges I5 are driven completely intoplace within the casing-sleeve 10 the replacing of the coverplate 12will prevent a displacement of the wedges and thus render the tighteningof the tire reliable. It is claimed. for this improved tire-tighteningdevice that it is extremely simple, very effective, easy to adjust,requires but few tools to effect an adjustment of the same, and doesnot require the services of a skilled mechanic to tighten the loosetires of one or more vehicle-wheels.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- A wheel having a felly with two contiguous ends, asleeve inclosing said contiguous ends, the sleeve having an opening inits inner side and the sleeve having a portion depressed, such depressedportion being adjacent to one edge of the opening, a cover plate fittingsnugly within the opening and lying flush with the outer face of thesleeve, the coverplate having a part lying over the depressed portion ofthe sleeve, a bolt passed through said depressed portion of the sleeveand engaging the cover-plate, two blocks respectively bearing againstthe contiguous faces of the fielly, and means fitting between the blockswhereby to press the same apart, such means being capable of placementand displacement through the opening in the sleeve.

WILLIAM H. VVALLINGFORD.

Witnesses:

RICHARD KUHN, P. I. HOLMES.

